If
you are living in a country where swine influenza has caused disease in
humans, follow additional advice from national and local health
authorities.

What
should I do if I think I have swine influenza?

If
you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat:

•
Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as
possible.

•
Rest and take plenty of fluids.

•
Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and
sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.

•
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially
after coughing or sneezing.

•
Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household
chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.

If
you need medical attention:

•
Contact your doctor or healthcare provider before travelling to see them
and report your symptoms. Explain why you think you have swine influenza
(for example, if you have recently travelled to a country where there is a
swine influenza outbreak in humans). Follow the advice given to you for
care.

•
If it is not possible to contact your healthcare provider in advance,
communicate your suspicion of having swine influenza immediately upon
arrival at the healthcare facility.

•
Take care to cover your nose and mouth during travel.

What
should I do if I am in regular contact with pigs?

Even
though there is no clear indication that the current human cases with
swine influenza infection are related to recent or ongoing influenza-like
disease events in pigs, it would be advisable to minimize contact with
sick pigs and report such animals to relevant animal health authorities.

Most
people are infected through prolonged, close contact with infected pigs.
Good hygiene practices are essential in all contact with animals and are
especially important during slaughter and post-slaughter handling to
prevent exposure to disease agents. Sick animals or animals that died from
disease should not be undergoing slaughtering procedures. Follow further
advice from relevant national authorities.

Swine
influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating
properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived
from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of
160oF/70oC corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of
pork and other meat.

How
can I protect myself from getting swine influenza from infected people?

In
the past, human infection with swine influenza was generally mild but is
known to have caused severe illness such as pneumonia For the current
outbreaks in the United States and Mexico however, the clinical pictures
have been different. None of the confirmed cases in the United States have
had the severe form of the disease and the patients recovered from illness
without requiring medical care. In Mexico, some patients reportedly had
the severe form of the disease.

To
protect yourself, practice general preventive measures for influenza:

•
Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and
cough.

If
you are living in a country where swine influenza has caused disease in
humans, follow additional advice from national and local health
authorities.

What
should I do if I think I have swine influenza?

If
you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat:

•
Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as
possible.

•
Rest and take plenty of fluids.

•
Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and
sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.

•
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially
after coughing or sneezing.

•
Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household
chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.

If
you need medical attention:

•
Contact your doctor or healthcare provider before travelling to see them
and report your symptoms. Explain why you think you have swine influenza
(for example, if you have recently travelled to a country where there is a
swine influenza outbreak in humans). Follow the advice given to you for
care.

•
If it is not possible to contact your healthcare provider in advance,
communicate your suspicion of having swine influenza immediately upon
arrival at the healthcare
facility.

•
Take care to cover your nose and mouth during travel.

Prepare
for your trip before you leave

Antiviral
Medications: Travelers from the United States going to Mexico who
are at high risk of severe illness from influenza (for example persons
with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, and
the elderly, see www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/index.htm)
are recommended to take antiviral medications for prevention of swine
influenza during travel. The recommended antiviral drugs for swine
influenza are oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (brand name
Relenza®). Both are prescription drugs that fight against swine flu by
keeping flu viruses from reproducing in the body. These drugs can prevent
infection if taken as a preventative. Talk to your doctor about correct
indications for using influenza antiviral medications. Always seek medical
care if you are severely ill.

Antiviral
chemoprophylaxis, or taking medicine to prevent flu viruses from
reproducing in the body, (pre-exposure or post-exposure) is recommended
for the following people:

Household
close contacts who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for
example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly)
of a confirmed or suspected case.

School-aged
children who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for example,
persons with certain chronic medical conditions) who had close contact
(face-to-face) with a confirmed or suspected case.

Travelers
to Mexico who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for
example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly).

Border
workers (Mexico) who are at high risk for complications of influenza (for
example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly).

Health
care workers or public health workers who had unprotected close contact
with an ill confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection
during the ill person’s infectious period.

Antiviral
chemoprophylaxis can be considered for the following:

Any
health care worker who is at high risk for complications of influenza (for
example, persons with certain chronic medical conditions and the elderly)
who is working in an area with confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases,
and who is caring for patients with any acute febrile respiratory illness.

Persons
who are not at high risk but who are travelers to Mexico or first
responders or border workers who are working in areas with confirmed cases
of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Further
information about CDC’s recommendations for antiviral use during the
swine flu outbreak can be found at the following websites:

Healthcare
professionals

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm

General
public

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/antiviral_swine.htm

For
all travelers, CDC recommends the following steps to help you stay
healthy:

Be
sure you are up-to-date with all your routine vaccinations, including a
seasonal influenza vaccine. The seasonal vaccine is not expected to offer
protection against swine flu viruses, but it can protect against seasonal
influenza viruses which may still be circulating in Mexico and the
Southern Hemisphere.

Pack
a travel health kit that contains basic first aid and medical supplies.
See Pack
Smart
in Your
Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel
for a list of what to include in your travel health kit.

Identify
the health-care resources in the area(s) you will be visiting.